MEDIA CENTRE

DAM AND RAINFALL DATA

Latest dam data

This information is updated daily (when possible) and the figures reflect the previous 24 hours.

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Hazelmere Dam has been raised to increase its capacity and therefore a new area capacity table has been implemented to take into account the new dam capacity. This has changed the dam level percentage as it now takes into consideration the new supply level.

KwaZulu-Natal Drought Persists

Parts of Umgeni Water's operational area are still in a state of drought, a consequence of the El Nino effect. The affected areas are eThekwini, parts of iLembe District, Ixopo and uMgungundlovu District. Much of eThekwini and uMgungundlovu, including Pietermaritzburg, receive their water from the Mgeni system. The Mgeni system (Midmar Dam, Spring Grove Dam, Mearns Dams, Albert Falls Dam, Nagle Dam and Inanda Dam) has experienced below average rainfall over the past 30 months, resulting in some of these dams remaining consistently at low levels. It is as a result of inadequate rainfall and concerns over the levels of Midmar and Albert Falls dams that mandatory water restrictions of 15% have been implemented.

In the Hazelmere system, water restrictions of 40% have been lifted following good rainfalls over the past six months. The Hazelmere system serves areas in the far north of eThekwini and parts of iLembe. The use of an emergency scheme to transfer water from uThongathi River into Hazelmere Dam has been discontinued.

Water restrictions and use of emergency schemes have been effective in slowing down the drop in the levels of some dams within Umgeni Water's operational area. Consumers within the affected areas have begun to appreciate the need for water conservation and for the implementation of water rationing and restrictions as a means to manage the effects of the drought.